Clarifier



Sept. 4, 1928.

P. S. PINE CLARIFIER Filed Aug. 21, 1925 Patented Sept. 4, 1928.

insists;

PER-CY S. PINE, OF SALINA, KANSAS.

CLARIFIER.

Application filed August 21, 1926. Serial No. 130,616.

This invention relates to improvements in clarifier-s, and particularly those for clari-,

fying gasoline used in dry cleaning establishments. I

An object of the invention resides in providing an improved type of clarifier construction in which the gasoline to be treated isdischarged at the bottom of the clarifier and in flowing upwardly, is broken up by fine streams in order to be thorough y subiected to the action-of an alkali adapted to separate or, precipitate foreign matter can,

siding in the particular construction and rea suitable reticulated plate to a plurality of ried by the gasoline, while a plurality of battles prevent the agitation of the entire liquid content of the claririer so that the.

precipitated foam or mud will form in a body on the top of the alkali solution from which point it may be drawn olf by suitable means so that it will not commingle with the gasoline in the upper end of the clarifier which has been cleaned.

The invention includes other objects relation of the parts which are more particularly pointed out in the following deta led description, and in the claims directed to a preferred form of construction, it being un derstood. however. that various changes in the size, shape and relation of the parts may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention as herein setforth.

In the drawings forming a part of this I .suitable means to check this application: I

Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view in side elevation of a portion of a clariier system in which the present invention is used.

Fig. 9. is a vertical sectional View through the clarilier showing the improved construction, forming the subject matter of lhlS invention.

Fig. 8 is a. sectional View taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Referring to the drawings in detail, it will be seen that the reference character 1 l11Cllcates the discharge from the cleaning or washing machine which empties into the upper end of the tank 2, while a fluid feed line 3 leads from the bottom of the tank 2,

through the feed pump a from which the fluid is discharged through the pipe 5 into the clarifier 6.

This pipe 5 as shown more particularly in Fig. 2, extends downwardly through the central portion of the clarifier 6 and discharges in the conical-shaped. lower end 7 of said clarifier as indicated at 8. This fluid forcedthrough the pipe 5 under pressure. by the pump 4, so that after being forced outwardly at the bottom end of the pipe 5 within the clarifier at 8, the fluid will then be forced upwardly through the clarifior. la i 'l 1 ;.p iilC on or em por ion 0 too CrtlillCl up 0 the level indicated by the numeral 9 is filled with a suitabl, alkali solution such as caustic soda for TQ-ElQtlOIl on the gasoline in order to precipitate the foreign matter carried thereby which has been removed from clothing.

I In order that the action of the alkali will thoroughly treatall of the gasoline this invention provides a means to breakthe at 8 up int-o a plurality of fine streamsby means of the reticulated plate 10 at the upper end of the conical portion 7 The SlIIGELlD'Of gasoline will thus be broken up into finely divided form and subjected thoroughly to theaction of the alkali in order that all dirt and foreign mattercarried in suspension will be precipitated out of the gasoline. 1 a

It has been found from experience that the upwardflow of the fluid through the rc-. ticulated plate 10 produces considerable agirationin the lower end portion of the clarilior suilicientto stir the separated mud and stream of gasoline flowing from the pipe 5 v foreign v matter from the gasoline throughv plurality of How controlling members 11 are mounted in staggered relation in the reduced cylindrical portion 12 of the clarifier containing the alkali solution in order that the flow from the reticulated plate 10 will be given a circuitous path which has been found to permit thorough interinixture of all particles of the gasoline with the alkali, and at the same time to prevent agitation of the liquid in the main part of thertank as indicated at 1.3 by the discharge through the reticulated plate 10.

Through the cooperation of the reticulated plates and the flow controlling members 11 it has been found that the mud and other foreign matter will precipitate upon thesurface of the alkali solution as indicated at;14

in Fig. '2. From-this point it maybe pumped off through the dischargeflpipe 15. leading to the discharge pump 16, so that:

the accumulation of foreign matter in the I clarifier may be kept at a minimum amount .1.

throughout the continuous operation of the system.

This construction has been found to be of material advantage in the art as compared With other constructions known and at present used for the reason that the cooperation of the flow controlling members and the reticulated plates permits a thorough reaction between the gasoline and the alkali to remove all foreign matter, and provide for the precipitation of all foreign matter on the surface of 'the alkali so that it may be pumped off without pumping off thealkali solution.

In constructions heretofore used in the art, it is usually necessary in order to remove the foreign" matter and mud falling on the alkali solution, to entirely remove the alkali solution to remove the mud which necessiprovided by the prior art do not thoroughly commingle the gasoline with the'alkali, as

a result of Which some of the dirt and foreign matter is carried back into the Washer.

The pipe 17 leading from the top portion of the clarilier 6 conveys the steam and clear gasoline into the filter 18 from which it is distributed through the conduit or pipe 19 to the Washers for re-use' in cleaning in a :Well-knoWn manner over-flowing from the filter 18 being discharged through the pipe "20 and then returning to the pipe 1' from Which it flows into the tank 2.

This construction therefore provides an improved associationof elementsin a clarifier construction to-.-impro"e the ;operation thereof aswell as effect considerableeconomy in. such operation as compared With other devices at presentdn use in the art.

Having thus described my invention, What Ij'claim as new is 1. In a liquid clarifier, a container having an alkali chainber,.a reticulated plate memher in the bottom portion of said chamber, a fluid inlet opening into'the chamber belOW said reticulated plate member, bafile plates Within the chamber above saidplate member and a sediment level regulating pipe arranged Within the container with its intake end disposed at the upper end of said chamber.

2. In a liquid clarifier, a container having an alkali chamber, areticulated plate member in the bottom portion of said chamber, afluid inlet'below said plate member, a plurality of flow-controlling elements mounted in staggered relation Within said chamber and spaced from each other above said plate memberand a sediment removal pipe-arranged Within the container With its intake 8. In a liquid clarifier, a .container'having I an alkali chamber' formed at the lovverend thereof, a pressurefed' fluid inlet in thebottom portion of said chamber,- means above said inlet for breaking upfluid therefrom into a plurality of fine'jets, baffle plates arrangedw'vithin "the chamber above the jet forming means adapted to tortuously direct the flow of fluid upwardly, and asediment removal pipe extending verticallywithin'the container with its sediment intake end disposed at the upper level of'the alkali Within said chamber.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

PERCY S. PINE. 

